Marty
11-01-2005, 05:52 PM
Leaves changing colors, brisk autumn winds, and longer nights all signify the end of another summer. We welcome this respite from the heat, and so do our pets!
One thing we don't always think about is how the changing seasons affect the health and well-being of our pets. Make sure you are doing all that you can to protect your pet from the hazards that come with the changing seasons.
Perhaps the most important thing is proper housing for your pet. If you keep your pet outdoors, consider bringing him inside. He needs to be able to escape the cold and the wind. If your pet absolutely must remain outdoors, get a warm insulated pet house or shelter that is big enough for him to stand up and turn around but small enough to trap his body heat.
Elevate the house so that moisture doesn't accumulate. Make sure he has warm, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water. Animals that don't have access to clean, unfrozen water are more likely to drink out of puddles or gutters, which can be polluted with oil, antifreeze, household cleaners, and other chemicals.
Avoid electrical heating devices that could electrocute your pet if they got wet or were chewed. Try leaving out a hot water bottle, wrapped in a towel so it won't burn your pet's skin. Attach a door to keep out the winter winds. If your pet is in a pen, block the wind and weather with bales of straw and stretch canvas over the top of the pen. If the wind chill or other weather conditions become severe, bring your pet inside.
Remember: if you can't stand being outside, neither can he.
Indoor pets need their beds or crates moved to a warm, draft-free area, preferably elevated off the floor. Indoor pets should not be left outside for very long. If left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very resourceful in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide under porches where they can get trapped. Watch them closely when they are loose outdoors, and provide them with quality, easily accessible shelter.
If you have a short-coated or older pet, take them outside only as long as absolutely necessary; provide a sweater whenever you go outside.
Other Quick Tips:
* Take your animals to the vet for a check-up before winter kicks in. Your veterinarian can check to make sure they don't have any medical problems that will make them more vulnerable to the cold.
* If you have an outside pet bring him inside when it is cold. If your pet must remain outside, make sure he has an appropriate shelter that will keep him from getting cold.
* Check food and water often; the water may freeze and the food can turn moldy.
* Wipe your pet’s paws and belly off when you come inside: pets can pick up rock salt, ice, and chemical ice melts in their foot pads which cause severe irritation and could cause an inflammation of the digestive tract if licked off.
* If your pet isn't used to the cold, don’t make him stay outside longer than necessary. If your cat spends most of his time outside, bring him in the house. Watch your dog for signs that he is ready to go back in the house.
* Animals can get frostbite too! If they have frostbite their skin may turn reddish, white, or gray and it may be scaly or sloughing. Frostbitten areas are fragile and should be wrapped snugly for protection. Severe frostbite requires emergency treatment. Go ahead and put a sweater on our pet... if she'll put up with it. It will help a little, but you can't depend on it entirely to keep her warm. Pets lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears, and their respiratory tract. The best way to protect your pet is to keep a close eye on them!
* Never leave your pet in a vehicle in cold weather--the car can act as a refrigerator and your pet could freeze to death.
* Beware of antifreeze year-long but more so during the winter, when it is used more often. Antifreeze can be lethal to pets. When putting antifreeze in your vehicle, clean up spills immediately and keep your pet away from parking areas--many pets like antifreeze because it has a sweet taste.
* Use screens in front of fireplaces, woodstoves, and space heaters so your pets don't burn themselves.
* Never clip your pet's coat closely in cold weather; fur acts as insulation from the cold.
* Cats may crawl under the hood of a car to keep warm when it is cold. Before you turn your engine on, check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by honking the horn or banging on the hood.
* Keep your dog on a leash during walks. If he runs off, the snow covers familiar scents and he’ll have a hard time finding his way home.
One thing we don't always think about is how the changing seasons affect the health and well-being of our pets. Make sure you are doing all that you can to protect your pet from the hazards that come with the changing seasons.
Perhaps the most important thing is proper housing for your pet. If you keep your pet outdoors, consider bringing him inside. He needs to be able to escape the cold and the wind. If your pet absolutely must remain outdoors, get a warm insulated pet house or shelter that is big enough for him to stand up and turn around but small enough to trap his body heat.
Elevate the house so that moisture doesn't accumulate. Make sure he has warm, thick bedding, and plenty of non-frozen water. Animals that don't have access to clean, unfrozen water are more likely to drink out of puddles or gutters, which can be polluted with oil, antifreeze, household cleaners, and other chemicals.
Avoid electrical heating devices that could electrocute your pet if they got wet or were chewed. Try leaving out a hot water bottle, wrapped in a towel so it won't burn your pet's skin. Attach a door to keep out the winter winds. If your pet is in a pen, block the wind and weather with bales of straw and stretch canvas over the top of the pen. If the wind chill or other weather conditions become severe, bring your pet inside.
Remember: if you can't stand being outside, neither can he.
Indoor pets need their beds or crates moved to a warm, draft-free area, preferably elevated off the floor. Indoor pets should not be left outside for very long. If left alone outside, dogs and cats can be very resourceful in their search for warm shelter. They can dig into snow banks or hide under porches where they can get trapped. Watch them closely when they are loose outdoors, and provide them with quality, easily accessible shelter.
If you have a short-coated or older pet, take them outside only as long as absolutely necessary; provide a sweater whenever you go outside.
Other Quick Tips:
* Take your animals to the vet for a check-up before winter kicks in. Your veterinarian can check to make sure they don't have any medical problems that will make them more vulnerable to the cold.
* If you have an outside pet bring him inside when it is cold. If your pet must remain outside, make sure he has an appropriate shelter that will keep him from getting cold.
* Check food and water often; the water may freeze and the food can turn moldy.
* Wipe your pet’s paws and belly off when you come inside: pets can pick up rock salt, ice, and chemical ice melts in their foot pads which cause severe irritation and could cause an inflammation of the digestive tract if licked off.
* If your pet isn't used to the cold, don’t make him stay outside longer than necessary. If your cat spends most of his time outside, bring him in the house. Watch your dog for signs that he is ready to go back in the house.
* Animals can get frostbite too! If they have frostbite their skin may turn reddish, white, or gray and it may be scaly or sloughing. Frostbitten areas are fragile and should be wrapped snugly for protection. Severe frostbite requires emergency treatment. Go ahead and put a sweater on our pet... if she'll put up with it. It will help a little, but you can't depend on it entirely to keep her warm. Pets lose most of their body heat from the pads of their feet, their ears, and their respiratory tract. The best way to protect your pet is to keep a close eye on them!
* Never leave your pet in a vehicle in cold weather--the car can act as a refrigerator and your pet could freeze to death.
* Beware of antifreeze year-long but more so during the winter, when it is used more often. Antifreeze can be lethal to pets. When putting antifreeze in your vehicle, clean up spills immediately and keep your pet away from parking areas--many pets like antifreeze because it has a sweet taste.
* Use screens in front of fireplaces, woodstoves, and space heaters so your pets don't burn themselves.
* Never clip your pet's coat closely in cold weather; fur acts as insulation from the cold.
* Cats may crawl under the hood of a car to keep warm when it is cold. Before you turn your engine on, check beneath the car or make a lot of noise by honking the horn or banging on the hood.
* Keep your dog on a leash during walks. If he runs off, the snow covers familiar scents and he’ll have a hard time finding his way home.